Chinese Nuclear Forces and U.S. Nuclear War Planning

FAS project director Hans M. Kristensen and two analysts from the Natural Resources Defense Council examine the debate over China's modernization of its nuclear forces, review the composition and possible future development of the Chinese nuclear arsenal, describe past and current U.S. nuclear targeting of China, and use government software to simulate the effects of Chinese and U.S. of nuclear attacks. The report concludes that both countries use the other as an excuse to modernize their nuclear forces, and recommends that urgent steps are needed by both sides to halt and reverse a nuclear arms race.